Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala returned to Kathmandu Friday afternoon after attending the 14th SAARC summit held in the Indian capital New Delhi.
Talking to journalists on his arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport, Koirala said the summit was fruitful as it adopted commitments to develop physical and cultural connectivity among the member states.
Unlike past SAARC summits, this one was held in a very cordial manner, Koirala noted. Providing observer status to big nations has also boosted the importance of the regional bloc, he added.
Saying that the member countries hailed the political development in Nepal, the Prime Minister also informed that Nepal had tabled three proposals at the April 3-4 summit: flood control, use of resources and poverty alleviation.
Koirala, however, did not comment on the political situation in the country.
Foreign Minister Sahana Pradhan, who also returned with the PM after taking part in the summit, said the summit was important as there were discussions on ways to resolve the refugee impasse. India expressed readiness to assist in resolving the issue, she added.
Speaker Subash Nemwang, ministers and senior government officials were present at the airport to welcome the Prime Minister. Principle secretary of Royal Palace, Pashupati Bhakta Maharjan, was also present on the occasion.
PM Koirala had left for the Indian capital on April 1 leading the Nepalese delegation to the SAARC summit.
During his visit, he held meetings with India’s President APJ Abdul Kalam, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and former Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, apart from holding separate meetings with top SAARC delegates on the sidelines of the summit.
Koirala and Dr Singh discussed the current political situation in Nepal and Bhutanese refugee problem. Koirala had sought India’s help to resolve the Bhutanese refugee crisis.
Similarly, Koriala’s meeting with Bhutanese Prime Minister Khandu Wangchuk was said to be important, as the duo discussed Bhutanese refugee issue to which the latter gave assurance to ‘resolve’ it in the next bilateral ministerial-level meeting.